Ruan Qiuping opened his eyes wearily the next day, immediately seeing Yu Huan gazing at him with a blissful smile.
Ruan Qiuping: "..."
Ruan Qiuping had to exert great effort to restrain himself from punching the man in the face.
He took a deep breath before slowly turning his body away, facing his back to Yu Huan.
Yu Huan wrapped his arms around Ruan Qiuping's waist from behind, softly asking, "Why is Qiuping turning away?"
Ruan Qiuping: "..."
Because I'm afraid I won't be able to stop myself from hitting you.
Yu Huan planted light kisses on the back of Ruan Qiuping's neck, his voice tinged with a low chuckle: "Is Qiuping feeling shy?"
Ruan Qiuping: "..."
Ruan Qiuping stiffly turned his neck, gritting out through clenched teeth: "...Get lost!"
As he spoke, he realized his voice was hoarse, which only fueled his anger further.
Yu Huan: "..."
Yu Huan silently released his hold on Ruan Qiuping's waist.
He seemed to recall that he had gone a bit too far the previous night, and immediately lowered his eyes guiltily, his tone becoming cautious: "...Is Qiuping hungry? Do you want to eat? What would you like? I'll make it for you right away."
Ruan Qiuping was still too angry to respond, glaring at him fiercely before burying his head back into the covers to continue sleeping.
.
Ruan Qiuping was awakened by the aroma of food. Before he even opened his eyes, his nose twitched at the enticing smell.
He slowly opened his eyes and through the half-open door, saw Yu Huan setting the table in the nearby dining room.
Though Ruan Qiuping was still a bit angry with Yu Huan, he...
Ruan Qiuping touched his flat stomach, pondering whether satisfying his hunger was more important than continuing to be mad at Yu Huan.
Yu Huan seemed to hear movement and immediately came into the room. He was wearing a black apron, and the casual attire made his entire demeanor appear even gentler. He looked at Ruan Qiuping, his eyes crinkling as he smiled brightly: "Qiuping's awake. Come and eat."
Ruan Qiuping initially wanted to stubbornly refuse, but after glancing at the sumptuous spread on the table, he found it impossible to utter those two words of refusal.
Yu Huan blinked, his gaze full of anticipation: "Qiuping, I spent a long time cooking. Would you try it? If any dish isn't good, I can make it again."
Ruan Qiuping suddenly realized that satisfying his hunger and continuing to be angry with Yu Huan weren't mutually exclusive. He could even eat while criticizing, belittling Yu Huan's efforts as a way to get back at him for his excessive behavior the night before.
The more Ruan Qiuping thought about it, the more satisfied he felt. He immediately threw off the covers and got out of bed.
But as soon as he sat down at the table and started eating, he found himself unable to voice any criticism.
After much effort, Ruan Qiuping finally managed to find a flaw. He glanced at Yu Huan, his tone acerbic: "This... this portion of steamed egg is too small. It's gone after just two bites. How did you make it? So unprofessional!"
Yu Huan smiled: "Then I'll go make another bowl for Qiuping."
With that, he turned and went back to the kitchen to make more steamed egg.
Ruan Qiuping ate for a while longer before suddenly realizing that Yu Huan hadn't touched his chopsticks at the other end of the table. He hesitated for a moment, then asked softly: "...Have you eaten?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Ruan Qiuping realized his voice was too quiet. Combined with his already hoarse throat and Yu Huan being busy in the kitchen, he definitely wouldn't have heard clearly. He was about to ask again.
But before he could open his mouth, he saw Yu Huan come out carrying the steamed egg, his tone warm and gentle: "No, I'm not hungry. Qiuping should eat first."
Yu Huan placed the steamed egg in front of Ruan Qiuping and had just raised his head when he saw Ruan Qiuping squinting at him: "Yu Huan, don't you have hearing problems? Didn't you say you couldn't hear people clearly from more than two meters away indoors? How come your hearing has suddenly improved?"
Yu Huan: "..."
Yu Huan thought for a moment before remembering that on the first day he reunited with Ruan Qiuping, he had indeed told such a lie to get Ruan Qiuping to stay closer to him.
He paused, then said with a straight face: "I got it treated..."
"Thwack!" Ruan Qiuping forcefully stabbed his spoon into the steamed egg in front of him. The perfectly smooth, mirror-like surface of the steamed egg was now cracked, and the clean, elegant porcelain spoon collided with the porcelain bowl, producing a clear, crisp sound.
Ruan Qiuping looked at him, his tone ominous: "Tell the truth."
Yu Huan: "..."
Yu Huan calmly analyzed the situation before him and ultimately decided to admit his mistake quickly and cleanly: "I'm sorry, Qiuping. I lied to you. I wanted to be closer to you so badly that I told a lie."
Ruan Qiuping let out a cold laugh: "Mr. Yu, you're just the same as when you were young. Lies come out of your mouth so easily. After all these years, this bad habit of yours hasn't changed one bit."
At five years old, Yu Huan had lied to him about escaping from an orphanage.
Then at thirty-two, Yu Huan lied about having hearing problems.
Now at thirty-four, last night... last night he had deceived him thoroughly too, saying he would be gentle, slow, that it would be the last time... Liar! Beast! Bastard!
Thinking about how miserably he had been tormented last night, Ruan Qiuping's anger continued to rise. He might as well settle old and new scores together.
He looked at Yu Huan and coldly pointed to another bedroom nearby, saying: "From now on, we'll sleep in separate rooms. You sleep here, I'll sleep there!"
Yu Huan furrowed his brow, slowly repeating: "...From now on?"
Ruan Qiuping actually felt that his words were a bit excessive, but he tried his best to suppress his guilt and said loudly: "That's right, this is what you get for lying to me!"
Yu Huan was silent for a moment, then said softly: "Qiuping, I admit I did something wrong. I lied to you, but the punishment you're suggesting isn't appropriate or reasonable."
"How is it not reasonable? I think it's perfectly reasonable!"
"If Qiuping truly thought it was reasonable, why speak so loudly to cover up your own guilt?"
Ruan Qiuping's voice suddenly dropped: "...What's wrong with speaking loudly? I'm speaking loudly because I'm in the right."
"Is Qiuping really in the right?"
Ruan Qiuping: "..."
Ruan Qiuping poked at the steamed egg in his bowl.
Sleeping in separate rooms forever... was indeed a bit unrealistic.
Yu Huan quietly placed a dessert in front of Ruan Qiuping and said: "I'll sleep in another room tonight. Qiuping should rest well."
He paused, glancing at the purple marks on Ruan Qiuping's neck, and lowered his eyes gently, saying: "...Last night... I couldn't control myself. Qiuping, I'm sorry. I won't do that again."
There won't be a next time!
Ruan Qiuping fiercely scooped up a piece of steamed egg with his spoon and put it in his mouth with a ferocious expression.
Ruan Qiuping felt that after this ordeal, although he had suffered a bit, he had gained the fiery eyes of the Monkey King, able to see through Yu Huan's true nature at a glance.
He had been defeated before because his heart was too soft, unable to judge people clearly. One look at Yu Huan's dark, sparkling eyes, so sincere and passionate, and he couldn't help but compromise.
Now it was different. After being so brutally tormented by Yu Huan, he had thoroughly recognized Yu Huan's true face. No matter how innocent and pitiful Yu Huan's expression was, he could see the huge wolf tail behind this man with a single glance.
.
The owner of the wolf tail seemed to know he had made a mistake last night, so he was particularly attentive today.
When Ruan Qiuping finished eating and felt thirsty, Yu Huan personally made him fresh juice.
When Ruan Qiuping felt too tired to go out, Yu Huan stayed home with him to watch TV.
When Ruan Qiuping became drowsy as night approached, his bleary eyes making one's heart itch, Yu Huan only restrained himself to giving him a light kiss, not daring to make any further moves.
After washing up and returning to the bedroom to sleep, Ruan Qiuping turned his head to see Yu Huan standing at the door of the other bedroom looking at him, lips tightly pressed together, his usually bright black pupils now filled with reluctance and unwillingness to part.
Ruan Qiuping could clearly see the wolf tail behind this man, yet suddenly at this moment, he felt that the wolf tail behind him had drooped slightly, fluffy and carrying a hint of wronged feelings.
Ruan Qiuping: "..."
Ruan Qiuping quickly walked into the room and shut the door with a bang.
He feared that if he waited any longer, he might lose his senses and invite the wolf into his den.
Ruan Qiuping patted his own chest.
Very good, very good, this was an excellent start. At least this time he had remained cold-blooded and heartless, calmly controlling the situation.
Ruan Qiuping was awakened by a kiss.
Of course, it wasn't like in fairy tales where one is gently and romantically awakened by a kiss.
Rather, his fingers were kissed, then his cheeks, then his cheeks again, then his eyes...
And so, he was roused from sleep by one kiss after another.
Ruan Qiuping silently opened his eyes.
Yu Huan was smiling at him from the edge of his pillow, eyes curved in amusement.
After Ruan Qiuping came to his senses, he immediately became alert: "What's going on? Didn't you promise last night that you'd sleep alone in the other room? Did you sneak in during the night? Where's your sense of commitment?!"
Yu Huan blinked: "Ruan Ruan misunderstands me. I only came when it was light outside."
"...When exactly did it get light?"
"The sky started to brighten a little after four o'clock."
After saying this, he leaned in again, unable to resist kissing Ruan Qiuping.
Ruan Qiuping: "..."
Ruan Qiuping turned his head to look at the clock. It was now 7 o'clock.
This wasn't a wolf at all.
This was a damn wolf-dog.
"Where shall we go play today?" Ruan Qiuping asked while yawning.
"Anywhere is fine," Yu Huan said, gently nibbling his earlobe. "Staying at home for another day would be nice too."
Ruan Qiuping: "..."
No way, today they absolutely could not stay at home. Something would happen.
So, Ruan Qiuping took Yu Huan out to public places all day long, only returning home exhausted at eleven o'clock at night.
It was already eleven at night, they were both tired from playing all day. After a quick wash-up and a short rest, he would have to leave at 3:40 in the morning.
Perfect!
Ruan Qiuping's mental calculations were going well, but after lying in bed for just a short while, he was woken up by Yu Huan.
Yu Huan lowered his eyes and said softly, "Ruan Ruan, you have to leave in an hour."
"Yes," Ruan Qiuping pulled him back onto the bed, yawning continuously. "It's already past two in the morning, let's hurry up and sleep."
"But I won't see Ruan Ruan again for a year after this."
He seemed to be trying hard to smile at Ruan Qiuping, but couldn't manage it. "Ruan Ruan, what should I do? I think I've changed. I suddenly feel that waiting is so difficult."
He held Ruan Qiuping tightly, his tone filled with a hollow loneliness: "Am I too greedy? Because I felt I was one step closer to Ruan Ruan, I couldn't help but want every day to be like this. Now... now there's only an hour left before Ruan Ruan leaves, and this greedy feeling is even stronger. It feels like nothing I do is enough. What should I do, Ruan Ruan?"
Yu Huan looked at him, his eyes in the darkness like glass reflecting light, clear and fragile.
A familiar feeling washed over him, and Ruan Qiuping's heart tightened. He kept warning himself: Wake up, Ruan Qiuping! Can't you see his wolf tail wagging? It's still swaying! This is all just his disguise, his true face is extremely fierce!!
Ruan Qiuping indeed realized this was a big bad wolf, but seeing this big bad wolf so dejected, he couldn't help but want to pat him, to hug him.
He wanted to do everything in his power to make him happy.
Ruan Qiuping: "..."
Ruan Qiuping let out a long sigh.
He closed his eyes, lay on the bed, and said in resignation: "Hurry up, you only have an hour."
Halfway through, Ruan Qiuping suddenly remembered something important: "...The... the talisman?"
Yu Huan bit him fiercely: "Ruan Ruan, is that talisman really necessary?"
Ruan Qiuping pushed Yu Huan away, panting lightly: "Without the talisman... it's not allowed... we must have the talisman."
Yu Huan, almost gritting his teeth, took out the talisman from the bedside table.
Only then did Ruan Qiuping breathe a sigh of relief.
Yu Huan placed the talisman in Ruan Qiuping's hand, intertwining their fingers.
The golden face of the talisman was tightly clasped between their interlocked hands, appearing particularly dazzling and eye-catching in the dim night.
Yu Huan's fingers gradually tightened, his body covering Ruan Qiuping's inch by inch.
At the last moment, he leaned down to Ruan Qiuping's ear, his tone almost filled with a vindictive malice:
"Ruan Ruan, do you think the God of Fortune in heaven knows that the talisman he gave you is being used like this?"
But Ruan Qiuping didn't understand the meaning of these words. He only felt a wave of pain and stimulation hitting him simultaneously, making his scalp tingle and his whole body tremble.